Hypothyroidism

HYPOTHYROIDISM

PHAMACOLOGY

KADEEN JOHNSON

4/3/2011

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Hypothyroidism is a condition of the thyroid glands. This is when enough hormones are not being produced in the thyroid.

CAUSES

They are many types of causes for hypothyroidism and women that are over the age of 50 are more at risk of getting this condition. These causes can be:

* Radiation to the brain

* Radioactive iodine

* Surgical removal of the thyroid

* Hasimoto's thyroiditis, this is when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.

* Sheehan syndrome which is a condition when a pregnant woman bleeds severely.

* Congenital birth defects and Viral thyroiditis.

They are also many drugs out there which causes hypothyroidism like

* Propylthoracil (PTU)

* Amidarone and Lithium just to name a few.

SYMPTOMS

There are many ways possible where u can tell if you have the disease, there will be physical, mental and bodily changes; you have early stage symptoms and symptoms when it is left untreated.

Early changes include:

* Enlarged thyroid

* Yellow skin

* Extremely sensitive to cold

* Constipation

* Depression and Fatigue

* Heavy menstruation and Infertility

* Joints and muscle pain

* Pale or dry skin

* Brittle hair or fingernails

* Weakness and Weight gain

* Slow heart rate and different cholesterol levels.

Late changes may include:

* Loss of taste and smell

* Hoarseness and slow speech

* Trouble remembering things and slow thinking

* Swelling in the face, hands and feet

* Thickening of the skin and thinning of the eyebrows.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

This can be diagnosed by doing a